Cavendish, Spencer Compton

1833 – Born on July 23rd in Lower Holker, Lancashire, England. British statesman whose opposition to the Irish Home Rule policy of his own Liberal Party.

1857-1866 – Entering the House of Commons, Lord Hartington was secretary of state for war.

1868 – He was postmaster general, directing the nationalization of the British telegraph services, and afterward was chief secretary for Ireland.

1884 – He shared the responsibility for assigning General Charles George (“Chinese”) Gordon to evacuate British troops from the Sudan, but he repeatedly and unsuccessfully urged the Cabinet to hasten the expedition to relieve Gordon.

1886 – He assumed the leadership of the Liberal Unionist Party and to become increasingly identified with the Conservatives.

1887 – On three occasions he declined the office of prime minister.

1891 – He became the duke of Devonshire.

1893 – The duke of Devonshire led another defeat of a Gladstonian Home Rule bill, this time in the House of Lords.

1895 – Refusing the foreign secretaryship, he served in Lord Salisbury’s third ministry.

1902 – Served the Conservative government of Arthur James Balfour as lord president of the council, with responsibility for the school system.

1903 – Strongly believing in free trade, he resigned over that issue in October.